Description of behaviors of Auto-Exec and Auto-Open macros in Word

Article
08/20/2024
Applies to:

Office Products

You can use the Auto-Exec and Auto-Open macros in Word to establish default paths, styles, links, environment conditions, and so on, at the time Word opens a new document or opens an existing document. This article discusses how these macros work and how they behave in various situations.

Auto-Exec

An Auto-Exec macro runs when Word starts if the Auto-Exec macro is saved as part of the default (Normal.dot) template, or if it's saved as part of a global add-in. By using an Auto-Exec macro, you can make adjustments when Word starts but before a document is created or loaded. For example, you can use an Auto-Exec macro to change the default directory when Word starts.

You can suppress the Auto-Exec macro in several ways. One way is to start Word from the command line by using either the /m or the /embedding switch. To use these switches, select Start, select Run, type either winword /m or winword /embedding, and then select OK.

Another method to suppress an Auto-Exec macro is to press the Shift key while Word starts. Auto-Exec macros are also suppressed when Word is started from an Automation client.

Auto-Open

The Auto-Open macro runs after you open a new document. Auto-Open runs when you open a document in the following ways:

Use the Open command on the File menu.
Use the FileOpen or FileFind commands.
Select a document from the Most Recently Used (MRU) list on the File menu.

When a document is opened, an Auto-Open macro runs if the Auto-Open macro is saved as part of that document or if the macro is saved as part of the template on which the document is based. An Auto-Open macro doesn't run when it saved as part of a global add-in.

You can prevent an Auto-Open macro from running by holding down the Shift key when you open a document.

Create an Auto-Exec Macro and an Auto-Open Macro

Word 2002 or Word 2003
1. Create a new blank document in Word.
2. On the Tools menu, point to Macro and then select Security.
3. In the Security dialog box, select Security Level and then select Medium. select Trusted Sources, select Trust all installed Add-ins and Templates, and then select OK.
4. Create an Auto-Exec macro by following these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, point to Macro and then select Record New Macro.
  2. In the Record Macro dialog box, type AutoExec under Macro name, and then select OK. By default, the macro is saved in the Normal template. A small two-button command bar appears on your Word document or elsewhere on the Word desktop. Find the command bar and then select the square (Stop Recording) button to stop recording.
  3. On the Tools menu, point to Macro and then select Macros. Select AutoExec in the list of macros and then select Edit.
  4. Add the following code to the AutoExec macro:
```
MsgBox "You're seeing the AutoExec macro in action", vbMsgBoxSetForeground
```
  5. On the File menu in the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor, select Save Normal, and then close the Visual Basic Editor.
5. Follow the same steps that you used for the Auto-Exec macro to create an Auto-Open macro. This time, use the Auto-Open expression to replace the Auto-Exec expression in each step.
6. Save the document as C:\Yourfile.doc, close the document, and then exit Word.
7. Open the document in Word by using the different methods that are described in the table below. Observe when the macros run and when the macros don't run.

Word 2007

Create a new blank document in Word.
Select the Microsoft Office Button, and then select Word Options.
Select Trust Center, select Trust Center Settings, and then select Trusted Locations.
Add the trusted locations that you want, and then select OK two times.
Create an Auto-Exec macro by following these steps:
1. Select the Developer tab, and then select Record Macro in the Code group.
2. In the Record Macro dialog box, type Auto-Exec under Macro name, and then select OK. By default, the macro is saved in the Normal template. select Stop Recording in the Code group.
3. On the Developer tab, select Macros in the Code group. Select AutoExec in the list of macros, and then select Edit.
4. Add the following code to the Auto-Exec macro:
```
MsgBox "You're seeing the AutoExec macro in action", vbMsgBoxSetForeground
```
5. In Microsoft Visual Basic Editor, select Save Normal on the File menu, and then close Visual Basic Editor.
Follow the same steps that you used for the Auto-Exec macro to create an Auto-Open macro. This time, use the Auto-Open expression to replace the Auto-Exec expression in each step.
Save the document as C:\Yourfile.doc, close the document, and then exit Word.
Open the document in Word by using the different methods that are described in the table in the Macro Behaviors in Different Situations section. Notice when the macros run and when the macros don't run.

Macro Behaviors in Different Situations

The following table summarizes the behavior of these two macros when Word is started, or when a document is opened by various means:

Action	Auto-Exec	Auto-Open
Start Word with a blank document by typing Runs Does not run the following at a command prompt: Winword.exe	Runs	Doesn't run
Start Word with a saved document by typing the following at a command prompt: Winword.exe C:<Yourfile>.doc	Runs	Runs
Embed a Word document in an OLE container by typing the following at a command prompt: WinWord.exe /embedding C:<Yourfile>.doc	Doesn't run	Runs
Use code to automate Word and open Does not run Runs C:<Yourfile>.doc by using the following code: `Set oWord = CreateObject("Word.Application")` `oWord.Visible = True` `oWord.Documents. Open "C:\YourFile.doc"`	Doesn't run	Runs
Browse to the document in Internet Explorer or the WebBrowser control	Does not run	Runs

References

Command-line switches for Microsoft Office products

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